First, whenever a man talks loudly against religion, always suspect that it is not his reason, but his passions, which have got the better of his creed. A bad life and a good belief are disagreeable and troublesome neighbors, and where they separate, depend upon it, 'Tis for no other cause but quietness sake.

We are born to trouble; and we may depend upon it, whilst we live in this world, we shall have it, though with intermissions.

When the affections so kindly break loose, Joy, is another name for Religion.

There is no small degree of malicious craft in fixing upon a season to give a mark of enmity and ill-will: a word--a look, which at one time would make no impression, at another time wounds the heart, and, like a shaft flying with the wind, pierces deep, which, with its own natural force, would scarce have reached the object aimed at.

Any one may do a casual act of good-nature; but a continuation of them shows it a part of the temperament.

I am persuaded that every time a man smiles - but much more so when he laughs - it adds something to this fragment of life.

There is one sweet lenitive at least for evils, which nature holds out; so I took it kindly at her hands, and fell asleep.